Summer Reading – ‘Dig Into Reading’ Ideas

Even though it still feels like winter…it’s already time to start preparing for Summer Reading! Our library participates in the Collaborative Summer Reading Program, and this year’s theme is “Dig Into Reading.”

At first, I thought it was going to be all dirt and worms (which I actually like ☺) but there are so many different directions this can go! Dinosaurs…buried treasure…gnomes & fairies…..I’m getting excited.

We have already picked up an ant farm to have out during the summer or to give away as a prize. Did you know that you can also buy glow-in-the-dark ant farms & rainbow sand ant farms? You can purchase the farms now, and then you order the ants through the mail when you are ready to set it up (but you have to wait until it warms up to order the ants….you don’t want them to freeze in the mail!)

A library near us has worm races each year (and they have a huge turnout!) It was the first I had ever heard of it, but we are going to try having worms races this summer at the library. Here’s a youtube video of worm races & here’s a youtube video about worm races from the Texas State Library. Make sure to have prizes for the winners!

Did you know there is such a thing as a burrowing owl? I didn’t until recently. I couldn’t figure out why I kept seeing owls as related to the summer reading theme…I’m always learning something new! You could include owls as part of a theme on “burrowing animals.” And how cute is this burrowing owl puppet?

Magic Treasure Rocks- This is by far one of the coolest ideas I’ve seen for buried treasure – from Growing a Jeweled Rose. These rocks are made from baking soda, food coloring and glitter. Hide a treasure inside of each rock and then bury them in the dirt. When kids find them, they spray them with vinegar and the rocks fizz and disappear, leaving the treasure! I want to do this! Seriously. Amazing.